The Kashmir Dialogues
Ex-Sub Post Master and agent sentenced to 3 years for conspiracy, forgery and fake passbooks to cheat depositors; CBI prosecutor says accused manipulated ledger entries and misappropriated public money
Srinagar, May 31 (JKNS): The Special Judge for Anti-Corruption CBI Cases, Srinagar, convicted two individuals in connection with a financial fraud of ₹8.27 lakh committed at the Bandipora Post Office between 2008 and 2009.
Details available with news agency JKNS stated that those convicted include Gh Qadir Lone, the then Sub Post Master of Bandipora Post Office, and Mohd Shafi Lone, a then small authorised saving agent at the same office.
According to CBI Public Prosecutor Zahoor Ahmad Malik, “The accused conspired to manipulate ledger cards, make fictitious credit and debit entries, and issue fake passbooks to defraud depositors. They carried out fake withdrawals, depriving innocent account holders of their rightful savings.”
The court found the duo guilty under multiple sections of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), including 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 467, 468, 471 (forgery), and 477-A (falsification of accounts), besides Section 5(2) read with 5(1)(c)(d) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat 2006.
Both were sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment under each offence. Additionally, a fine of ₹10,000 was imposed under every charged section. The court ruled that the sentences will run concurrently, while failure to pay the fine will result in one month of additional simple imprisonment per section, to be served consecutively.
The judgment is being seen as a strong message against corruption and financial misconduct in public institutions, particularly in government-run services such as the postal system. (JKNS)
Sheikh Sameer
